Huston



g-" AJGOOISFELLOW I I FINE A' US'IMENT AND ALIGNMENT FOR APPROACH TABLES Filed Jan. 22, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 g- 1929- v A. GOODFE'LLOW 1,723,505

FINE ADJUSTMENT AND ALIGNMENT FOR APPROACH TABLES Filed Jan/22, 1925 e Sheets-Sheet 2 1929- A. GOODFELLOW 1,723,505

FINE ADJUSTMENT AND ALIGNMENT FOR APPROACH TABLES Filed Jan. 22, 1923 65heets-Sheet 3 Ln |.-r -1.

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FINE ADJUSTMENT AND ALIGNMENT FOR APPROACH TABLES Filed Jan. 22, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 lll v lllullllllll'llllllJlIJ g u M m I I N.

f hl lflnl l h Illa-XII g- 1929- A A. GOODFELLOW 1,723,505

FINE ADJUSTMENT AND ALIGNMENT FOR APPROACH TABLES Filed Jan.- 22, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 v A. GOODFELLOW 1,723,505

' FINE ADJUSTMENT AND ALIGNMENT FOR APPROACH TABLES Filed Jan. 22, 1923 6 Shets-Sheet 6 i 25 A are secured to hold the plate accurately'in position while it is being gripped by the hold-j ing devices of a drag-feed or carrier, 1n or-- der that thealignment and adjustment se-.

Patented 6 1929 (I v"I?"UN1TBDSTATES T orri' csf -ALFREDGOODFELLOW, OF 'COATESVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES'L.

I HUSTON, OF COATESVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

' r FINEADJ'USTMENT ANDVALIGNMENT non APPROACH TABLES.

Application filed January 22, 1923. Serial No. 614,149.

My invention relates to the feeding mechanisms and to aligning devices for metal plates which are being transferred to operating tools orito other feeding devices. r j

The main purpose of. my invention is to arrange for engagement with the plate at separated points by preferably magnetic grips forming parts of independent adjusting devices capable of use to align the plate orto lar and lateral positions of the 'are'otherwise available.

feed the plate, securing more accurate align ment'and better fine adjustment of the anguplate than ing'devices and feeding mechanism by which accurate mechanism for initially placing the the' accurate alignment and fine adjustment cured may be maintained by the v auxiliary feed. I v i Y Also to combine the advantages of: exact and plate with positive'mechanism forgripping and guiding the plate at spaced points along the length of the plate so as to maintain the positioning of the-plate secured' 1 Also-to provide a fine feed using electro- I magnet clutches or grips which lie normally i I thesplate.

a roller feed for. rapid adjustment, to obtain.

' themaximum benefits from both and to use the roller support comprising part of the major adjustment to carrythe plate during the movement of the fine adjustment;

Also to apply independent fine feed devices atdifferentparts of a roll table so that they I c'an'be operated together in the same direction for adjustment and togetherin opposite directions or separately for alignment.

Further purposes will appear in the specivfication and in the claims.

I have preferred to illustrate my invention by but one'of the forms in which it may be applied, with some variations in the mechanism which can be used, selectin a form which is practical, efficient and hig 11y satisfactory and which at the same time Well illustrates the principles of my invention;

Figure 1 is a topplan view, largely diagrammatic, showing the preferred form of my invention with associated parts.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view corresponding generally with a ferent in detail. t Figure 3 is a section of Figure 2 upon line 33ofFigure2.- t

Figure 4c is a section of'part of the longi'- tudinal carrier mechanism seen in Figures'l and 2, comprising an electromagnetic-drag.

Figure 5 is atop plan view of onexof the portion of Figure 1' but l. I V 70 adjusting and aligning devices seen in Figi ure 2.

V Figure 6 is a side elevation of the structure seen in Figure5.

Figure 7 is aside elevation of a detail of a structure which may be used in connection with Figures 11 1 1.-

Figure 8 is a top plan view of another form of electromagnetic drag.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation,

partly in vertical section, of the structure of Figure 8.

' Figure 10 is a fragmentary end elevation of the structure of Figures Sand Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 are diagrammatic views showing dilferent roll tablesand de vices fed by them, to which my inventionmay be applied. V r

In the .handling of thick sheet'metal such as is acted upon by hydraulic machines, many efiorts have-been made to avoid excessive hand movement and to provide complete effective and satisfactory mechanical devices for this purpose.= \Vhile the shifting of the plates easily and rapidly over long distances by roller 'feedtables has been accomplished freely and manipulating devices are available for rapid. and considerable angular turning, of the plate upon the feed rollers, the finer adjustments of the movement. of the 2 ing lateral and longitudinal plate feeds intended finally to provide for the successive coincident shearings of sectionsof the sides of the metal plate, perfect positioning and alignment of'the plate prior to the first cut and H the maintenance of this alignment become of f rst, importance,

Two shears intended for synchronous action upon opposite sides. of the same plate are shown diagrammatically at 10, 11, with i rightand left-hand screw adjusting mechanism 12 for moving them toward each other toset the width to which the plate is cut. The two ends of each shear are synchronized by common knife operating mechanism connecting the plungers of cylinders 18, 14, 13, 14

in each shear and the two shears are hydraulically synchronized by being fed from difl'erent high pressure cylinders 15, 16 for shear 10, 17, 18, for shear 11, all operated by the same intensifier. A shear of this character, having coincident operation on opposite edges of the plate with provision for cutting off the scrap. so that the plate can be fed successively for other operations is shown in an application filed by Charles L, Huston for Facin shears for cutting heavy metal plate, Ser. o. 576,998, filed J uly2 1, 1922.

Transfer connections: for feeding metal plate from the mill through the cutting shears, shear rolls, transfer rolls and varians, forms of roll or carrier devices to some form of shear are of course old. The connect ons which I have shown are largely old but contain new constructions not ofmy invention, in the carrier structure by which the plate, supported and moved to and between the. Shears and by Which alignment secured is maintained. K

i Beginning with the roll table 19 from the plate, mill I have illustratedin Figure 1 a conventional course of the platethrough a Shear 20 to, shearrolls 21, serving also shear 22, and thence by roll table 23 and transfer h tableQt to the carrier- 25 upon which the plate is deposited fromthe transfer table and by which, it is carried to the shears and through between 2 them. That this may be .greatly varied, with lateral transfer, where the course of the, plate from the mill is not in direct line with the carrier (parallel to the carrier or otherwise) and omitting the lateral transfer where the paths are in line, but with fine adjustment and alignment in either case, is intended to be made clear by a few diagrammatic illustrations in Figures 1114 from a number of arrangements familiar to those skilled in this art. The paths of the plate are parallel in Figures 11 and 12, with lateral transfer of the plate, while in Figures 13 and 14 their paths are in lineand the plate passes to the carrier without need for any considerable lateral movement.

In these four figures, the roll tables .at the mill are seen at 19, 19 the shears for the ends of the plate at 20, 22 (one only in Figure 13), the shear table or a table capable of similar worl; at 21, 21 and roll tables 23., 23 in Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14. Diagrammatic transfer tablesare "shown at 24 in Figures 11 and 12 and casters 28 serving in part the place of a roll tableare shown in Figure 11. In all of these figures, as in F igure 1, roll tables, such as 21, 21" comprising rolls, each larger at one end than at the otherand alternating in position may berotated at the same speed and in the same direction to feed the plate as on an ordinary roll table of straight rolls, or at different speed or direction to rotate the plate in horizontal planes. 2

In all of the figures the carrier shown represents one form only among many which may be used. Itcomprises a plurality of electromagnetic clutches or g-riping devices, here electromagnets 26 supported in holders 2? which are adapted to slide in guides 28 upon the opposite sides ofa channel 28 whose base 28 rests upon any beam orfother'support28 V a The holders with their enclosed magnets represent .independently-movable gripping devices which may be moved lengthwise of the guides at the same speed to engage different parts of the length of the plate, so as to maintain its alignment and unite the pulling forceof two or more devices, or independently at the same or at different speeds and in different directions wholly independently of each otherto operate upon different plates or different parts. ofplates where desired.

The poles project through thrust-receiving The electromagnets are cover plates 29. flanged at 26 to limit the upward movement and are magnetized by windings 30 which are connected in series or in parallel as preferred and receive current through collector arms 31, 31, The arms for different magnets are preferably supplied with current The electromagnets 26 are shown as ver- 1 from separate trolley wires in order that any magnet'may be energized while the current iscut off from the other or others. Three are shown, though the number in use would probably much exceed this.

As will be recognized the broader aspects of my invention do not require that the grip- Iping mechanism be electromagnetic, but this net is tapered at the sides at 32 and is extended at front and back at 32 where it is apertured at 32 to receive tubular extensions 33 which form guides for the casing, permititing. and guiding vertical movement of the casing with respect to the frame.

The interiors 33 of the tubular members 33 act as guides for the pins 34 whose lower ends are enlarged to form armatures 34 for the lifting solenoidal magnets 35 by which the gripping electromagnet is lifted into position to engage with the plate.

- The pins 34 carry crossbars 36 which pass. through slots in thesidesof the tubular extensions33 and extend beyond the sidesof the tubularparts tosustain the weight of the entirecasing 32 within which the gripping electromagnet is carried.

,The gripping .electromagnet is energized a coil 37 and the various parts are supported and protected by plates 38, 38

The electric connections indicated are such as to .pass the electric current through the lifting and gripping coils in parallel with I the result that when electrical connection is made energization of the solenoidal coils will lift the armaturesand hence the cross bars 36 raising the gripping electromagnet intocontact with the plate, after which the gripping magnet will follow vertical movement of the pl ate. Obviously for the purpose of cutting off the current from the solenoidal coils when the gripping magnethas taken hold, the lifting and gripping coils be separately energized and controlled. f Whatever the, form used the holders and their electromagnetic grips. or, clutches may be drawn lengthwise of the carrier by cables 39, of which one is shown as connected with each grip to; operate it alone. The other cables pass throughand are supported by the several holders. From the holders shown the cable passes about one of the idlers 4O other end of the holder after passing over one of the shives 42. The connections of the others are similar to this.

On each side of the carrier is a roller-supporting frame 46, 47 whose rollers 48 are intended to take the weight of the plate as it is being dragged along by one or more of the carrier grips.

The transfer table described comprises a plurality of tilting sections 49, each carrying rollers 50, provided with gear teeth and intermediate gears 51. One of these gears 51 is driven by gears 52, 53, pairs of gears 54, 54, 55, 55, and gear 56 from shaft 57 of motor 58 so as to maintain constant driving connection. The sections are pivoted upon shaft 59.

The end of the table adjoining the carrier is lifted and lowered by means of rods 60 pivoted in the table at one end and at the other end in bearings 61 upon beam 62 extending the length of the table. The beam is mounted near its center upon the plunger 63 of a hydraulic cylinder 64 by which the beam is raised and lowered.

Vithin the zone of the transversefeed table, in front of thesections 49 are located beams 65 which rest at one end upon the beam 62 and at the other end have bearings at in any suitable support. At an intermediate point in the length of the beams 65 I mount upon them a beam 67 connected by pivoted rods 68 with cross heads 69 movable in guides within one of the roller-supporting frames. The cross heads 69 carry rollers 50 at their upper ends which assist in the support of the plate while the adjoining end of the transfer table is raised and which drop with it to allow the plate to restupon the rollers 48.

The ends of the transfer table sections adjacent to the carrier are adapted to rest within recesses not shown in the frame 47 so as to allow the plate to come to position upon the rollers 48.

As thus described plates from any suitable rolling mill or storage are delivered to the transfer table and are adapted to be placed by it upon the carrier to be moved to and through the shears.

' My invention is intended to fit in with such a laterally extending transfer table, if it be needed, or with a more direct supply of plates from the mill, omitting lateral transfer (Figures 13 and 14, for example) and to be used with or without a connecting carrier, or with any table or delivery mechanism where fine adjustmentof the final position of the plate or alignment of the plate is needed.

The operating devices by which I adjust and align are shown in sets of three, 70, 71 and 72, in some of the figures, and in sets of two elsewhere, though any number may be used for which there is room. Each one of the set is separate and distinct from the other and comprises a grip or clutch 73 along with operating mechanism by which it can be moved in either direction. Hence any two can be moved in the same direction or in Opposite directions. One grip can be held energized but stationary while another or others swing the plate about it. They are shown to advantage in Figures5 and 6 in which the actual grips or clutches for engagement with the plate are like those used for the drag-conveyor but the operating mechanism is different.

While I show three adjusting and aligning devices, two are located near the opposite sides of the table so as to make it possible to handle with them plates of the full length for which the table is intended, and the third is placed between them but at different distances from them so as to connect with the nearer device for short plates and with the farther device for intermediate lengths.

The grips or clutches comprise electromagnets 74, arranged in series or in parallel as preferred, within frames 75 movable w thin guides 76. The second form of grip, h1gures 8-10, or any other could be used here. The frames are rigidly connected with or may be integral with nuts 77 for threaded operat; ing rods 78 resting in bearings 7 9 and turned by gears 80. The gears are driven by spur gears 81 upon shafts 82 carrying gears 83 at their opposite ends, and these last gears are shown as driven by spur gear 84: upon the armature shafts of motors 85. The currentis supplied to the conductors 86 from any suitable source not shown preferably selectively, so that one or two can be energized and the other or others remain inactive.

Because it is desirable to use the rollers of the transfer table, as idle rollers merely for the support of the plate, in order that it may be moved by my adjusting and aligning devices with a minimum of energy (and in profs erence to supplying special rollers) any of the interconnecting gears between the table rollers and the motor may be shifted to disconnect the gearing where desired, avoiding the necessity for turning all of the gearing and the motor armature by these devices. I show such a mechanism in brackets 87 swinging about the shaft 59 and carrying gear 53 so that by swinging of the bracket to a different position the connection between this gear and the gear above it may be interrupted.

In the Various figures, I have shown not only supplen'iental rollers 50 which were adapted to lift and lower in conjunction with the lifting and lowering of the transfer table, but have shown rollers 50 at points where there is no transfer table and in figures where rolls upon which the plate may be supported so as to facilitate lateral movement of the plate for centering or alignment of the plate.

, For the purpose merely of completeness in illustration I have shown in Figure 7 one way in which rollers 50 can be lifted and lowered whether they be inserted within openlngs 1n the carrier frame or be separate and distinct from the carrier frame or from the frames of rolls or rollers from which they are ment devices to provide for centering or alignment at any point in the travel of the plate securing the same ease of movement as is socured by supporting the plate upon a transverse table while making the. mechanism wholly independent of the presence or ab sence of lateral transfer of the plate.

In some of the figures I have shown sets of line adjustment mechanism on opposite sides of the carrier for the purpose merely of indicating that the operation of the device may take place in any position at which the plate is accessible and that devices on opposite sides of the plate may be used to advantage.

The capabilities of both forms of electromagnet of dropping out of the way of the plate when not in use and of lifting and lowering without losing their hold on the plate permit the transfer of heavy plates in the planes of the plates without rubbing againstthe de-energized magnetic poles when the device is'not in use and enable the magnet to adapt itself somewhat to a plate surface which is not wholly smooth and uniform but varies from the intended plane, securing reliable contact with the plate and maximum traction. It also avoids strain between the magnet and plate which would cause undue friction against the guiding surfaces.

In order that the electromagnets may'not be in the way of the plates under normal circumstances and may not be engaged by them except when desired but may come into .firm 7 contact with the plates in operation, I'place the electromagnets normally well below the lower surface of the plates. The location of the flanges of the electromagnets in the first form well below the cover plates and the movement given the casing of the electromagnet in the second form with respect to the frame by which it is carried give the necessary freedom for upward movement in both forms so that the electromagnets lie well below the plate when not in use and lift into contact conforming to the surface of the plate rolls or rollers rotating in planes at an angle 1 and preferably at a right angle to the length ofthe plate. 1 It needs centering or alignment to bring-its length directlyin line wit-lithe shears; If the transfer table he used, the left end of the table is in raised position-so that the plate is supported upon it and upon the rollers 50 which lift with the table and lie beyondthe carrier; Otherwise it will be sup ported upon some such devices as rollers 50. The fine adjustment may; swing with the table, where-this isused, but need notdo so,

as the comparatively slight vertical movement of the table need not-interfere with theeleetromagnets lifting to make proper contact with the plate. Provided the plate'be a long one, where there are three adjusting devices the end adjustments will be'used. If a very short one, the two adjustments "nearer the center ofFigu're l-will be used. it a moderate length plate, the plate will be run out on the transfer table to lie over the adjustment nearest the observer in Figure '1 andthe intermediate adjustment. 1

In any event, the proper electromagnets are energized to cause the cores to lift into engagement with the plate and the corresponding motors are operated to turn the threaded rods and move the plate, preferably first disconnecting one of the gears in the train controlling the transfer table where this table is used so that the rollers of the transfer table may be used as idlers for this purpose. a v

If the electromagnets are moved'in the same direction toward or from the carrier, the plate will be adjusted merely, but it may be aligned by operating one of the adjustments only while the other or others are cleenergized by operating one of the adjustments while the magnet of another is energized, but the adjustment is not operated so that the latter magnet acts to define a pivotal point; or by. operating two of the adjustments in opposite directions.

The electromagnets of the carrier may be energized to make contact with the plate either before or after the plate is lowered into contact with the rollers on the two sides of the carrier. They may be given range of vertical movement to make effective contact in either case.

It will be obvious that there are many other forms in which my invention may be applied and which will suggest themselves readily to others skilled in the art in view of the disclosure made herein. It is therefore my purpose to include herein all such other forms as come within the reasonable spirit and scope of my claims.

l-lavingthus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The method of adjusting or aligning a plate for delivery to a carrier by use of a transfer table, which consists in transferring the plate to the general position desired at a level above the carrier giving the plate fine adjustment by means separate from the transfer means while in its raised position to place the plate accurately above the carrier, and lowering the plate upon the carrier. Y

2. The method of adjusting or aligning a plate for delivery to a carrier, which consists in moving the plate to the general position desired at a level above the carrier, givingthe plate, fine adjustment by means separate from the moving means while in its raised position to place the plate accurately above the carrier, engaging the plate by clutch mechanism upon the carrier and lowering itupon the carrier.

3. The method of adjusting or aligning aplate for delivery to a carrier, which consists in moving the plate to the general position desired at a level above the carrier, giv ing the plate fine adjustment by means sep-' arate from the moving means while in its raised position to place the plate accurately above the carrier and lowering it upon the carrier.

4. The method of adjusting and aligning a plate for delivery to a carrier, which consists in moving the plate to the general position desired at a level above the carrier, giving the plate. fine adjustment by means separate from the moving means while in its raised position to place the plate accurately above the carrier, lowering the plate and engaging the plate near its end by grip mechanism upon the carrier while in the lowered position, and gripping it at points near the ends of the plate to maintain it in aligned position.

5. The method of aligning a plate with respect to a conveyor which consists in supporting the plate over the conveyor upon rollers rotatable in planes transverse to the conveyor, in aligning the plate while so located, and in lowering the plate upon the conveyor.

6. The method of aligning a plate with respect to a conveyor which consists in supporting the plate over the conveyor upon rollers rotatable in planes transverse to the conveyor, in aligning the plate while so located and in lowering the plate upon the conveyor and engaging the conveyor with the plate.

. 7. The method of aligning and conveying a vplate which consists in providing a'conveyor having rotatable plate supports turningin planes parallel with the length of the conveyor, in supporting the plate above the level of the Conveyor upon rotatable devices movable in a plane perpendicular to the length of the conveyor, in aligning the plate while so supported, in lowering the plate upon the supporting device of the conveyor and in maintaining the alignment by holding devices between the conveyor and plate.

8. A table provided with rotary devices adapted to support heavy metal plate, in combination with two independent electromagnetic gripping fine adjusting means for the plate located in proximity to opposite sides of the table and separately and independently engaging and moving the plate.

9. A table adapted to handle heavy metal plates, a carrier at the delivery end of the table, a plurality of gripping devices in the carrier capable of operating upon the same plate, a plurality of gripping devices on the table adjacent opposite sides of the table adapted to engage the plate, means for causing the gripping devices to engage the plate and fine adjustment means for moving the gripping devices within the table to adjust and align the plate over the carrier gripping devices.

, 10. A transfer table adapted to be raised and lowered, a carrier upon which a heavy metal plate is adapted to be deposited by the transfer table, and fine adjusting mechanism for the plate adapted normally to lie below the lower surface of the plate when the table is in its lowest position and adapted to grip and move the plate for fine adjustment when the table is in raised position.

11. A carrier having rollers adaptedto re ceive a heavy metal plate, gripping devices therein for moving the plate, a table atone end of the carrier adapted to deliver a plate above the carrier and to rest it upon the carrier, in combination with electro-magnetic grips, normally lying below the upper level of the table in the lowest position of the table and movable upwardly to grip the plate in the raised position of the table and line adjustment connections for said grips to move them independently in order to adjust or align the plate.

12. A tool for operating upon heavy plate,

a conveyor for the plate, feeding it to the tool, comprising roller supports for the plate and a drag and grips for engaging the plate, means for holding the plate above the I conveyor but free from it and adapted to move freely in a direction lateral to the conveyor, fine adjusting means for aligning the plate with respect to the conveyor and means for placing the plate as thus aligned upon the conveyor.

ALFRED GOODFELLOW. 

